A standing room only crowd of nearly 60,000 saw the Cards decisively beat the Hurricanes in what some might call the biggest season opening game in UofL football history.

Dominique Brown's 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Gerald Christian's 10-yard TD catch late in the fourth followed Louisville's big defensive performance that helped beat Miami.

Despite the 18-point margin, Louisville showed none of the offensive prowess expected in Petrino's return as the Cardinals outgained the Hurricanes 336-244 in a ragged game offensively for both teams.

Louisville's new 3-4 defense provided many of the opportunities by forcing three takeaways, including one that followed a costly fumble by Cardinals quarterback Will Gardner inside his 15.

After Louisville held Miami to a field goal following Gardner's second fumble in the third quarter, Brown's TD provided a 21-13 cushion. Christian's scoring pass from Gardner with 1:43 remaining sealed the win.

Louisville hired Petrino from Western Kentucky where he emerged after a scandalous departure as head coach at Arkansas. He went 41-9 with Louisville from 2003-06.

Miami is favored to win the ACC Coastal Division after going 9-4 last season under Al Golden.

Louisville next faces Murray State at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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